Gilles Combet

Bio: Gilles Combet grew up in Paris and London. His early education included drawing and painting classes at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs. Later on, he apprenticed himself to the Compagnons du Tour de France, an ancient craft guild dating back to the Middle Ages where he got a degree in traditional roof carpentry.
At the age of 17, he left for Africa, where he lived for six months in the Sahara desert with a family of Touareg nomads. This experience was pivotal in his life.
Upon his return to France, Combet pursued a 10-year career as a professional dancer. Dance brought him to the United States, first to New York and then to San Francisco.
Eventually, Combet went back to his first passions: drawing and painting.
Gilles Combet currently teaches at Creativity Explored, a renowned art center for adults with developmental disabilities.